U.S. Army Environmental Command seeking Comments on JHSV's in Guam, Hawaii, San Diego and Seattle

Guam is one of several areas being considered as a station for up to a dozen high-speed catamaran-style military ships each capable of transporting more than 300 people per ship, according to an Army Environmental Command announcement.

Hawaii, San Diego and Seattle are also being considered, according to the command's announcement, which was issued as an advertisement in the Pacific Daily News to solicit public comments.

A cooperative effort between the Navy and the Army, the Joint High Speed Vehicles, or JHSVs will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, vehicles and equipment, according to an earlier Defense Department announcement of the program on defenselink.mil.

"JHSVs will be capable of transporting 700 short tons (within) 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots, and can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank," according to the Defense Department.

These ships all give commanders the ability to roll on a company with full gear and equipment, or roll on a full infantry battalion if used only as a troop transport, haul it intra-theater distances, then move their shallow draft safely into austere ports to roll them off, according www.defenseindustrydaily.com.

Initial uses of the high-speed vessels have led to a $1.6 billion program called the Joint High Speed Vessel, which could involve up to 10 ships, according to defenseinustrydaily.com.

The Army Environmental Command notice for public comment says up to 12 Joint High Speed Vessels will be stationed.

TO COMMENT

The U.S. Army Environmental Command welcomes public comments on the plan. E-mail comments to the Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Environmental Command, 5179 Hoadley Road, ATTN: IMAE-PA, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010.

You can also call (410) 436-2556; (410) 436-1693; or e-mail APGR-USAECNEPA@conus.army.mil.

They don't appear to be bringing the Superferry back to Kaua'i. They want to try to bring the JHSV ('Superferry on steroids') military version back to Hawaii. But, so far I have only seen mention of Pearl Harbor. They might want to use JHSV's between Pearl Harbor and Kawaihae Harbor on the Big Island between two military bases that might use these vessels for training. There are plenty of unmitigated arguments against that too. Maui and Kauai, on the other hand serve no effective military purpose for the JHSV's use. PMRF doesn't need armored training and the roads are not re-inforced out of Nawiliwili Harbor, so I don't think JHSV's should reasonably be used in/out of Maui nor Kauai. Rest assured.